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How I Hit 5-Figures Per Month in 90 Days During C0VlD-19

A detailed account of a Fastlane process...

TCMorgan

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Hey everyone!

It's been a while since I've updated here on the forum, and I have had a WILD year so far! I'm going to share how I reached $10k+ per month consulting, how long it took me to get there (title might've been a spoiler...), and some insights into how you could pull this off, too. Hopefully this post is helpful to someone!


But first, a little context.

I've been a member of the forum for a long time, but have never really been super active. If you dig hard enough, you can find my previous two intro threads: one when I first found the forum and was an electronic artist manager/club promoter (that didn't go well), and my second "intro" thread after I found the Fox web design thread and subsequently his Facebook group. Coupled with finding the web design thread and finally reading TMF , it's fair to say my eyes were opened to the roadmap from that point. That was back in '15-'16.

My college education is in physical therapy. I've never once used that education. From the time I graduated high school (2011), I put myself in position after position to learn about marketing and advertising. I took several different ecommerce jobs, sales jobs, agency jobs; any place I thought I could further cut my teeth, I worked there. At one point, I even left an agency job to try to start an agency myself (went well for a bit... then not so well. That's worth a thread in itself).

That brought me to 2019, where I was working as a paid search specialist at an ad agency, managing 25 or so client accounts. This was honestly the best job I could have imagined. The pay was good, the benefits were solid, the people were amazing, office location was 10/10. But then...


C0VlD-19: My FTE

Sure, maybe my "f*** this" event isn't as dramatic as some, but it was enough to kick me into gear and change my life for the better. Like many people in the US and around the world, I was laid off in March due to client shortages caused by C0VlD-19. The agency for which I worked was niched completely into an industry that came to a screeching halt, so there wasn't much need for me. Even though I was told I still had a job (when the clients came back), this was a real punch in the face. I had what I thought was the best job ever and I was a textbook great employee. And yet, the universe still managed to find a way to strip me of my source of income. This lack of control was what I label as my FTE. I realized I could do everything right and it was still possible to lose it if I'm not the one responsible at the end of the day.


While most were giving up.

If you've been on Facebook the last few months, you've seen it. Everyone looked at job loss as time to panic, lay down, and wither. I could have very easily done that, especially since I was told I'd have a job in a few months. But the lack of accountability and control forced me to make other plans.

A quick side note, lest I look like an entitled, privileged punk. I am fully aware that not everyone had an easy run through their C0VlD-19 layoffs. I'm not saying literally everyone can attempt, could, or should have attempted what I managed to pull off. I understand that for some, especially those with mouths to feed or zero in savings, a layoff is massively detrimental. (Whether or not I think it's responsible to operate your life while NOT prepared for a layoff is a different point entirely).

Ok, back on track. I spent the first two weeks of my layoff knocking out home projects that I didn't have the time for originally. I painted my kitchen, installed subway tile, renovated my "office" room, built a PC, and landscaped. I used this time not only to make my surroundings more comfortable, but to think and plan. "WTF am I going to do to fix this?" I frequently thought to myself while working on projects.

But I knew what I needed to do all along. I had a silver-platter opportunity to take my second stab at starting a business. This time, instead of a managed marketing agency model, I would do what I do best: consult. Granted, I'd never consulted before. But I always had phone calls with business owner friends and they always told me my advice helped them do X or Y. So I had consulted, I just never got paid for it.


How I Got Started, Even During a Pandemic

The plan I hatched while renovating my home was simple: find three clients of any size and make them an offer they can't refuse. If they sign contracts, I'll give myself a name, file all the paperwork, and formally launch this thing.

I probably sent 50 LinkedIn messages and 50 Facebook messages to local business owners. The messaging was simple. "I know times are tough right now. I am starting a consulting firm and I'm writing because I feel I can help prevent layoffs by minimize your marketing expenses. $500 for a consultation, and if we don't find a way to save on your bottom line while keeping or even improving your marketing results, I'll give every one of those dollars back." If the consult went well, I would pitch bringing me on for regular consulting.

And, pardon my language, a whole shitload of people liked that idea. I probably did 15 or so consultations. Kept my word on a few of them and refunded them. Reality is, COVID really did impact some businesses and it wasn't always possible to find a way to scale back without significantly impacting the marketing returns. The honesty was appreciated and earned me a lot of "When we're healthy again, we're coming to you" type conversations.

But of those consultations, three bit and brought me on as a consultant. I immediately had my three. And I kept my word to myself, filed all my paperwork, and formally launched my business. I was laid off in March, and by the end of May (just short of 90 days), I had three clients signed to extended contracts.


So what do you even do as a consultant?

Remember I mentioned I took any job I could to learn marketing, advertising, and sales? This is where that all pays off.

I've labeled myself as a marketing and communication consultant. A "freelance CMO" of sorts. I work with businesses that need overarching guidance in their marketing strategies. I call the shots, train the teams, allocate spend, and collect a retainer for doing so. In some cases, I also manage the marketing services. I have an ad guy, a developer, a copywriter, and some others I can tap regularly for projects. By the end of the year, I will have likely hired one or all of them (if they want that, that is).


But wait... I'm not a marketer. How could I do that?

Listen, everyone has the potential to have a sharpened skillset. If you're an exceptional accountant, or an HR wiz, or a damn good web designer, or the best toilet cleaner in your city... you're in a position to help someone. Consulting is the fine art of teaching people the things you don't realize they don't know. I second-guessed my way up and down about consulting because I thought, "what information could I possibly give them that they don't know or have access to already?" The answer was, shockingly, a LOT of information.

If you have a skill, the odds are that there are a handful of businesses, some of which may already be in your network, that need your help. Do you have the resolve and the wherewithal to offer these services in a way that proves your benefit? If not... read TMF , or have yourself an FTE. Either/both will help develop that resolve.


Hold on. Consulting isn't fastlane.

Alright, you got me there. I'm not technically waking up looking at every day like a Saturday. I've still got some work to do. What I AM doing, though, is building relationships that can grow either into equity positions (when I've proved my worth enough to the right kind of clients), or into a big enough book of business that I make an exit to a larger consulting firm. Money systems and the Fastlane from there. There's still some work to be done.


THE KEY TAKEAWAYS
  • Find every opportunity to learn something useful.
  • Life isn't always going to go your way. Sometimes, you can do everything right and still get the short end of the stick.
  • That stick I just mentioned? You can chuck it and find a bigger stick. Life is what you make it.
  • If you have a skill, figure out how it helps a business, then leverage that as your selling point and entry into working with businesses who need you.
  • For the love of God, please wash your hands and don't cough in each others' mouths for sport. Can confirm from personal connections that if COVID goes south, it REALLY goes south.

And for anyone who made it this far and is wondering... yes, I DID get an offer to reclaim my position. Looking my employer in the face and saying "I'm sorry, but I won't be coming back to the best job I've ever had" was sad, terrifying, and yet the most exciting feeling ever.

Oh, and don't believe that BS about "you're not self-employed, you're just employed by clients." When you prove your worth and manage expectations, your clients view you as a lifeline, not an employee.


Anyways, I hope I haven't rambled too much and that someone finds value in my story! Feel free to ask any questions you might have!
 
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Simon Angel

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Anyways, I hope I haven't rambled too much and that someone finds value in my story! Feel free to ask any questions you might have!


Congratulations!

I'm surprised you started completely by cold outreach, yet didn't cold call at all. Your emails were obviously very targeted and sincere with a low perceived risk for your clients, which is great.

  • What kind of businesses did your initial 3 clients have (that you put on retainer)?
  • How much were you charging these 3 clients per month for your services?
  • What kind of results did you bring for them that made them want to work with you for the long-term?

Again, my utmost congratulations! You built a 6 figure business in 3 months!
 

Ronak

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Wow, hats off to you, my friend.
You took a tough situation and turned it around. It takes guts to reach out cold to new prospects, sometimes even more if they're people you know.

Of the 3 you signed up, were there any similarities? Why did they sign up and why do you think the other didn't?

You have made good use of the forum, following recommendations of learning on the job, helping people, and getting orders first before action faking with incorporation, etc.
 
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Gabbe18

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I agree that this is not a fastlane business however you have gained skills and knowledge that will be very valuable if you ever decide to start a fastlane business!
Congrats and keep working!
 

peterb0yd

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Honestly, if you're learning how to successfully market for other businesses, what's to stop you from developing your own product and running your own campaigns for it?

That's the angle I would take if I were you. Learn the process by helping other clients, then apply it to your own venture once you become proficient.

Building products is easy, especially if you have money coming in.
 
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TCMorgan

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Congratulations!

I'm surprised you started completely by cold outreach, yet didn't cold call at all. Your emails were obviously very targeted and sincere with a low perceived risk for your clients, which is great.

  • What kind of businesses did your initial 3 clients have (that you put on retainer)?
  • How much were you charging these 3 clients per month for your services?
  • What kind of results did you bring for them that made them want to work with you for the long-term?

Again, my utmost congratulations! You built a 6 figure business in 3 months!

Thank you!! Expanding on my original post to clarify a point here: I was NOT emailing. LinkedIn and Facebook messaging. Cold emailing hasn't been as successful for me in 2019-2020 as it was in 2016-2017. Might be pandemic related, might be people getting tired of agencies/marketers emailing them. I'm not sure.

I went right to the source. I dug up decision-maker info and connected on LinkedIn or friended them on Facebook, and pitched them the $500 consultation with the money-back guarantee.

The first three I signed on, I booked 2 @ $4,000 and 1 @ $3,000. All three were consistent in B2B manufacturing and distributing.

In the initial consultation, I worked with these businesses to identify where either time or money were being spent in the marketing and sales channels that weren't yielding results. An example is with a telecom client: they're rapidly growing and there isn't much communication between the marketing and sales teams. We worked together to establish a process by which sales could be attributed to their marketing efforts. This is a surprisingly prevalent problem in B2B.

The initial consultations were opportunities for me to prove my value and knowledge in actual business processes - not just agency functions. To transition to consulting agreements from the initial consultation, I asked one question: given the issues identified in our conversation, do you feel there may be more parts of your marketing and sales processes that are holding you back?

The three that signed on immediately agreed that their eyes were opened to the types of issues that can exist, and saw the value in bringing me on to identify and correct those issues.


I hope I answered everything in a way that is useful! Let me know if there's anything else I can address.
 

TCMorgan

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Wow, hats off to you, my friend.
You took a tough situation and turned it around. It takes guts to reach out cold to new prospects, sometimes even more if they're people you know.

Of the 3 you signed up, were there any similarities? Why did they sign up and why do you think the other didn't?

You have made good use of the forum, following recommendations of learning on the job, helping people, and getting orders first before action faking with incorporation, etc.

Thanks!

I think I touched on your questions pretty well in a response I just posted, but I'll summarize! The businesses were all growing companies in B2B manufacturing and distributing. One had an issue with attributing sales to their marketing efforts and the other two were spending money in the wrong places.
 

TCMorgan

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Honestly, if you're learning how to successfully market for other businesses, what's to stop you from developing your own product and running your own campaigns for it?

That's the angle I would take if I were you. Learn the process by helping other clients, then apply it to your own venture once you become proficient.

Building products is easy, especially if you have money coming in.

Thanks! I appreciate the response!

That's a small bit of context that I left out: I have actually had two separate product ventures. Both were profitable, but I never left my job to pursue either of them. One was in the pet supply space, and another in the magic (yes, like magician magic) space.

I don't love the process of product development. I have all the admiration in the world for people who have the patience to go through designing, manufacturing, negotiating, logistics, etc. Hence why I am far more interested in consulting for businesses that can offer equity positions. I did this early on with a software company and it has always served as a small, but viable, income stream.
 
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Khairt

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Hey everyone!

It's been a while since I've updated here on the forum, and I have had a WILD year so far! I'm going to share how I reached $10k+ per month consulting, how long it took me to get there (title might've been a spoiler...), and some insights into how you could pull this off, too. Hopefully this post is helpful to someone!


But first, a little context.

I've been a member of the forum for a long time, but have never really been super active. If you dig hard enough, you can find my previous two intro threads: one when I first found the forum and was an electronic artist manager/club promoter (that didn't go well), and my second "intro" thread after I found the Fox web design thread and subsequently his Facebook group. Coupled with finding the web design thread and finally reading TMF , it's fair to say my eyes were opened to the roadmap from that point. That was back in '15-'16.

My college education is in physical therapy. I've never once used that education. From the time I graduated high school (2011), I put myself in position after position to learn about marketing and advertising. I took several different ecommerce jobs, sales jobs, agency jobs; any place I thought I could further cut my teeth, I worked there. At one point, I even left an agency job to try to start an agency myself (went well for a bit... then not so well. That's worth a thread in itself).

That brought me to 2019, where I was working as a paid search specialist at an ad agency, managing 25 or so client accounts. This was honestly the best job I could have imagined. The pay was good, the benefits were solid, the people were amazing, office location was 10/10. But then...


C0VlD-19: My FTE

Sure, maybe my "f*** this" event isn't as dramatic as some, but it was enough to kick me into gear and change my life for the better. Like many people in the US and around the world, I was laid off in March due to client shortages caused by C0VlD-19. The agency for which I worked was niched completely into an industry that came to a screeching halt, so there wasn't much need for me. Even though I was told I still had a job (when the clients came back), this was a real punch in the face. I had what I thought was the best job ever and I was a textbook great employee. And yet, the universe still managed to find a way to strip me of my source of income. This lack of control was what I label as my FTE. I realized I could do everything right and it was still possible to lose it if I'm not the one responsible at the end of the day.


While most were giving up.

If you've been on Facebook the last few months, you've seen it. Everyone looked at job loss as time to panic, lay down, and wither. I could have very easily done that, especially since I was told I'd have a job in a few months. But the lack of accountability and control forced me to make other plans.

A quick side note, lest I look like an entitled, privileged punk. I am fully aware that not everyone had an easy run through their C0VlD-19 layoffs. I'm not saying literally everyone can attempt, could, or should have attempted what I managed to pull off. I understand that for some, especially those with mouths to feed or zero in savings, a layoff is massively detrimental. (Whether or not I think it's responsible to operate your life while NOT prepared for a layoff is a different point entirely).

Ok, back on track. I spent the first two weeks of my layoff knocking out home projects that I didn't have the time for originally. I painted my kitchen, installed subway tile, renovated my "office" room, built a PC, and landscaped. I used this time not only to make my surroundings more comfortable, but to think and plan. "WTF am I going to do to fix this?" I frequently thought to myself while working on projects.

But I knew what I needed to do all along. I had a silver-platter opportunity to take my second stab at starting a business. This time, instead of a managed marketing agency model, I would do what I do best: consult. Granted, I'd never consulted before. But I always had phone calls with business owner friends and they always told me my advice helped them do X or Y. So I had consulted, I just never got paid for it.


How I Got Started, Even During a Pandemic

The plan I hatched while renovating my home was simple: find three clients of any size and make them an offer they can't refuse. If they sign contracts, I'll give myself a name, file all the paperwork, and formally launch this thing.

I probably sent 50 LinkedIn messages and 50 Facebook messages to local business owners. The messaging was simple. "I know times are tough right now. I am starting a consulting firm and I'm writing because I feel I can help prevent layoffs by minimize your marketing expenses. $500 for a consultation, and if we don't find a way to save on your bottom line while keeping or even improving your marketing results, I'll give every one of those dollars back." If the consult went well, I would pitch bringing me on for regular consulting.

And, pardon my language, a whole shitload of people liked that idea. I probably did 15 or so consultations. Kept my word on a few of them and refunded them. Reality is, COVID really did impact some businesses and it wasn't always possible to find a way to scale back without significantly impacting the marketing returns. The honesty was appreciated and earned me a lot of "When we're healthy again, we're coming to you" type conversations.

But of those consultations, three bit and brought me on as a consultant. I immediately had my three. And I kept my word to myself, filed all my paperwork, and formally launched my business. I was laid off in March, and by the end of May (just short of 90 days), I had three clients signed to extended contracts.


So what do you even do as a consultant?

Remember I mentioned I took any job I could to learn marketing, advertising, and sales? This is where that all pays off.

I've labeled myself as a marketing and communication consultant. A "freelance CMO" of sorts. I work with businesses that need overarching guidance in their marketing strategies. I call the shots, train the teams, allocate spend, and collect a retainer for doing so. In some cases, I also manage the marketing services. I have an ad guy, a developer, a copywriter, and some others I can tap regularly for projects. By the end of the year, I will have likely hired one or all of them (if they want that, that is).


But wait... I'm not a marketer. How could I do that?

Listen, everyone has the potential to have a sharpened skillset. If you're an exceptional accountant, or an HR wiz, or a damn good web designer, or the best toilet cleaner in your city... you're in a position to help someone. Consulting is the fine art of teaching people the things you don't realize they don't know. I second-guessed my way up and down about consulting because I thought, "what information could I possibly give them that they don't know or have access to already?" The answer was, shockingly, a LOT of information.

If you have a skill, the odds are that there are a handful of businesses, some of which may already be in your network, that need your help. Do you have the resolve and the wherewithal to offer these services in a way that proves your benefit? If not... read TMF , or have yourself an FTE. Either/both will help develop that resolve.


Hold on. Consulting isn't fastlane.

Alright, you got me there. I'm not technically waking up looking at every day like a Saturday. I've still got some work to do. What I AM doing, though, is building relationships that can grow either into equity positions (when I've proved my worth enough to the right kind of clients), or into a big enough book of business that I make an exit to a larger consulting firm. Money systems and the Fastlane from there. There's still some work to be done.


THE KEY TAKEAWAYS
  • Find every opportunity to learn something useful.
  • Life isn't always going to go your way. Sometimes, you can do everything right and still get the short end of the stick.
  • That stick I just mentioned? You can chuck it and find a bigger stick. Life is what you make it.
  • If you have a skill, figure out how it helps a business, then leverage that as your selling point and entry into working with businesses who need you.
  • For the love of God, please wash your hands and don't cough in each others' mouths for sport. Can confirm from personal connections that if COVID goes south, it REALLY goes south.

And for anyone who made it this far and is wondering... yes, I DID get an offer to reclaim my position. Looking my employer in the face and saying "I'm sorry, but I won't be coming back to the best job I've ever had" was sad, terrifying, and yet the most exciting feeling ever.

Oh, and don't believe that BS about "you're not self-employed, you're just employed by clients." When you prove your worth and manage expectations, your clients view you as a lifeline, not an employee.


Anyways, I hope I haven't rambled too much and that someone finds value in my story! Feel free to ask any questions you might have!
Congratulations man! WOW 90 days! I hope you can scale your consulting more and more..
If this won't bother you, Can i know the required information or knowledge to become a marketing and communication consultant? I am good at digital marketing .. and copywriting .. if you point me to what to learn next,i'll really appreciate it.
 
Last edited:

Simon Angel

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Thank you!! Expanding on my original post to clarify a point here: I was NOT emailing. LinkedIn and Facebook messaging. Cold emailing hasn't been as successful for me in 2019-2020 as it was in 2016-2017. Might be pandemic related, might be people getting tired of agencies/marketers emailing them. I'm not sure.

I went right to the source. I dug up decision-maker info and connected on LinkedIn or friended them on Facebook, and pitched them the $500 consultation with the money-back guarantee.

The first three I signed on, I booked 2 @ $4,000 and 1 @ $3,000. All three were consistent in B2B manufacturing and distributing.

In the initial consultation, I worked with these businesses to identify where either time or money were being spent in the marketing and sales channels that weren't yielding results. An example is with a telecom client: they're rapidly growing and there isn't much communication between the marketing and sales teams. We worked together to establish a process by which sales could be attributed to their marketing efforts. This is a surprisingly prevalent problem in B2B.

The initial consultations were opportunities for me to prove my value and knowledge in actual business processes - not just agency functions. To transition to consulting agreements from the initial consultation, I asked one question: given the issues identified in our conversation, do you feel there may be more parts of your marketing and sales processes that are holding you back?

The three that signed on immediately agreed that their eyes were opened to the types of issues that can exist, and saw the value in bringing me on to identify and correct those issues.


I hope I answered everything in a way that is useful! Let me know if there's anything else I can address.

Epic work, thank you!

Ah so I got it wrong then, $500 is for the initial consultation - basically the question asking phase and diagnosing, not a month-long ongoing process , correct?

If they don't see the value - you give them their money back. If they do see the value in working with you, you name your price.

I really, really like the money back guarantee concept. I'm thinking whether it would be a good idea to do it with my first Google Ads clients. It puts risk and possible reward at the opposite ends of a scale.

That's a good way to test my skills as well - if they want to stay after the first month, I'll put them on a retainer.

If they don't - sure, I might lose that money, but perhaps I would've never gotten that client without the money back guarantee anyway and I'd have gained valuable experience!

Thanks for the insight! Love it, I'll start messaging people on Facebook as well! I have my own execution thread and will tag you once I've made this work too.
 

Walter.LV

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Love your story! I graduated as a physical therapist too, but didn't like giving massages to older women... So I quit after six months and have been figuring this digital marketing consulting ever since. Turns out I was right and the offer is the single biggest factor.

How do you structure your consulting offers?

So you start out by $500 - and I'll improve your bottom line without spending more? If that's successful, how do you pitch the next thing?
 
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TCMorgan

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Congratulations man! WOW 90 days! I hope you can scale your consulting more and more..
If this won't bother you, Can i know the required information or knowledge to become a marketing and communication consultant? I am good at digital marketing .. and copywriting .. if you point me to what to learn next,i'll really appreciate it.
Thanks! I sure hope so, too!

If you are already proficient in digital marketing and copywriting, the core things you can learn next are business operations (for your clients) and sales (for yourself).

Business operations - The asset I bring to the table vs just hiring another PPC agency is that I get inside businesses and figure out which parts of the operations are affected by the marketing inefficiencies. I might even cross more into management consulting, if I'm being honest. Study up on business process creation, workflow optimization, project management, and employee relations. This will give you a huge advantage.

Sales - The easiest step to becoming a consultant is getting paid to consult for someone. You can be awful at digital marketing, but if someone is paying you to work with them, you're a consultant. Learning sales will help you get clients and go from "How do I become..." to "How do I improve, now that I am..."
 

TCMorgan

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Epic work, thank you!

Ah so I got it wrong then, $500 is for the initial consultation - basically the question asking phase and diagnosing, not a month-long ongoing process , correct?

If they don't see the value - you give them their money back. If they do see the value in working with you, you name your price.

I really, really like the money back guarantee concept. I'm thinking whether it would be a good idea to do it with my first Google Ads clients. It puts risk and possible reward at the opposite ends of a scale.

That's a good way to test my skills as well - if they want to stay after the first month, I'll put them on a retainer.

If they don't - sure, I might lose that money, but perhaps I would've never gotten that client without the money back guarantee anyway and I'd have gained valuable experience!

Thanks for the insight! Love it, I'll start messaging people on Facebook as well! I have my own execution thread and will tag you once I've made this work too.
You've got it! $500 for the initial consult - if we don't find a way to improve tangible returns on ads then the money is refunded. It's an excellent "foot in the door" relationship builder. I based it on Jordan Belfort's straight line sales system in which one of his objection breakers is offering to work at a lower level, or a smaller service package, "to serve as a benchmark for future business."

The other benefit is that there are some clients who pay for the consultation, yet don't necessarily want to sign on as a consulting client right away. They're incredibly likely to come back later and become consulting clients since they've already got some skin in the game.

Feel free to tag me in your thread or shoot me a message if you have any questions!
 
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TCMorgan

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Love your story! I graduated as a physical therapist too, but didn't like giving massages to older women... So I quit after six months and have been figuring this digital marketing consulting ever since. Turns out I was right and the offer is the single biggest factor.

How do you structure your consulting offers?

So you start out by $500 - and I'll improve your bottom line without spending more? If that's successful, how do you pitch the next thing?
Thanks!! Physical therapy is overrated hahaha. I took one look at the actual work I'd be doing, and I turned and RAN! I wanted to be a pro athlete therapist. Turns out, the market doesn't really need more of those. The market needs nursing home physical therapists. No thanks!

If the initial consultation goes well, I simply ask "Do you feel, based on the solutions we've identified so far, that there is more in your business that could be addressed?" After a successful consult, the wheels usually start turning and they'll have 3-4 more things that they can identify as possible areas needing correction. That's when I'll make my offer of an amount per month and the level of service I can provide for that amount.

In complete transparency - I'm still figuring out my offer. I meet with one client once a week for an hour and they're cool with that. Another one I spend half a day with twice a week. The hole I have in my operation is that I haven't productized my service offering yet. There's no "$5,000 gets you X."

Would love to hear your thoughts, or anyone else who is familiar with the consulting space, on that subject!
 

Simon Angel

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Thanks!! Physical therapy is overrated hahaha. I took one look at the actual work I'd be doing, and I turned and RAN! I wanted to be a pro athlete therapist. Turns out, the market doesn't really need more of those. The market needs nursing home physical therapists. No thanks!

If the initial consultation goes well, I simply ask "Do you feel, based on the solutions we've identified so far, that there is more in your business that could be addressed?" After a successful consult, the wheels usually start turning and they'll have 3-4 more things that they can identify as possible areas needing correction. That's when I'll make my offer of an amount per month and the level of service I can provide for that amount.

In complete transparency - I'm still figuring out my offer. I meet with one client once a week for an hour and they're cool with that. Another one I spend half a day with twice a week. The hole I have in my operation is that I haven't productized my service offering yet. There's no "$5,000 gets you X."

Would love to hear your thoughts, or anyone else who is familiar with the consulting space, on that subject!

Well, as you know, there are instances where just some minor tweaks on ad campaigns can raise CTR by 5-10%, considerably lowering costs which depending on their budget could be worth alone the $5000 they're paying you..

Now add the rest of the value you're already providing for them and it sells by itself, doesn't it?

I also think it's hard to talk in certainties when discussing/pitching marketing strategy, rather just estimates and past experience with other clients.

"We did X for Y and we got a 15% increase in Z which resulted in U. Based on preliminary data we believe there's a high likelihood of having similar or better results in our project here with you"

Hope my brainstorming helped.

And in regards to messaging you with any questions I may have..

Why yes, I believe I will, thanks for the offer!
 

Kid

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$500 for a consultation, and if we don't find a way to save on your bottom line while keeping or even improving your marketing results, I'll give every one of those dollars back
I like this way of introduction because its setting your value first ($500)
and then backing them up in case it didn't work (the refund).

That's different from going in and saying "let me work for free, i promise i'll do my best!"
which shows that someone might not have any skills or value.

Congrats
 
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Zahida A. Khan

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Hey TC, GREAT share my dear chap

Your direct outreach msg is sincere with risk reversal, which made your offer enticing especially in uncertain times

I'm super happy that you jumped the chasm in ONE leap :fistbump::cool::fistbump:

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S
 

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Thanks! I sure hope so, too!

If you are already proficient in digital marketing and copywriting, the core things you can learn next are business operations (for your clients) and sales (for yourself).

Business operations - The asset I bring to the table vs just hiring another PPC agency is that I get inside businesses and figure out which parts of the operations are affected by the marketing inefficiencies. I might even cross more into management consulting, if I'm being honest. Study up on business process creation, workflow optimization, project management, and employee relations. This will give you a huge advantage.

Sales - The easiest step to becoming a consultant is getting paid to consult for someone. You can be awful at digital marketing, but if someone is paying you to work with them, you're a consultant. Learning sales will help you get clients and go from "How do I become..." to "How do I improve, now that I am..."
Thanks for the reply. For the last 4 days i have read books about selling and i know i have to practice it, but my problem now is the business operations part, i don't find any source to learn from,, Is that something you can help me with please?
 
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Deleted72597

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In complete transparency - I'm still figuring out my offer. I meet with one client once a week for an hour and they're cool with that. Another one I spend half a day with twice a week. The hole I have in my operation is that I haven't productized my service offering yet. There's no "$5,000 gets you X."

Would love to hear your thoughts, or anyone else who is familiar with the consulting space, on that subject!

First of all: Congratulations on your success!
Secondly: Thank you for all the insight you have provided!

I'm currently venturing into similar fields as you are operating in.
Your thread is so packed with value for me that I want to throw money at you.
(Also: Thanks Odysseus, for mentioning it!)

I've considered doing similar things, except I've been thinking about a 30-60 minute free consultation, give some free value, tell them about things I can help with based on what I learned, give them my business card, inform of prices, or refer to my website where they can find rates + other services I provide, then bid them farewell. I love your methodic, and how you phrase your sentences.

I'm not sure if you have read "The E-Myth - Michael E. Gerber"? I have a feeling it might prove useful.
I'll throw out some ideas for the "$5,000 gets you X" productization part.
Based on no experience executing any of them, only imagination.

1. Create different services that you offer for set prices. Packages that you dedicate X time to.
This can be combined with hiring staff to work for you. You teach them the process, they do the work. You can still initiate contact with prospective clients, and do the first consultation before delegating.
This doesn't mean that the relationship between you and your clients have to become impersonal.
Only that you already have a system built around the solving of problems you already do for your clients. "Ah, you struggle with your ........., and your ........., I can help you with that".
- Efficiency package: $300 -> You go through your pre-created system (routine) that is made to increase efficiency.
- Conversion package: $500 -> You go through your pre-created system with the client that is proven to increase conversion rates.
And so on.

2. You set an hourly rate (or another time-based rate) you are truly satisfied with, then transition or leap into it. You politely tell your existing customers about this transition. You lose some clients, you keep some, you gain others. You alienate some potential clients and open up for new clients that see your value and are willing to pay you for it. I guess you can test the waters with different rates over time.

3. You create different packages with different provided services. Like you were a phone or internet company. Or you were selling logo packages on Fiverr.
Package 1: Up to 1 Hour consultation time per month, 1 statistics report, "X something else"
Package 2: Up to 3 hours of consultation per month + Chocolate bar

These 3 can also be combined. Play around with the concepts, maybe you figure something out.

If I were in your shoes (which I'm hoping I soon will be), I believe I would write down all the things I felt like I could offer based on previous consultations and my general skillset. I would try to get a sense of what those different assets were worth to clients through actual or theoretical math (increased revenue, conversions, etc.), through feedback from clients, or based on your own imagination (what do you truly believe you can do for the right company?). I would basically indulge myself in an epic brainstorming session.

Again, thank you for the great insight. And good luck!
 
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Paul David

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I'd try and pick one niche and run with it. That should be easier to scale.

Ie The hotel fixer guy

That way you can just rinse and repeat.
 

USN-Ken

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This strategy is similar to Michael Senoffs hidden marketing assets (HMA) course -- he teaches you the marketing skills to go out and become a consultant. If any of you want to follow in TC morgans footsteps, check it out. Its $300-$400 and is well worth it (in my opinion, anyway).

I bought it to get better at marketing for my own businesses (at the time) and not for the consultant part of it. I did reach out to some small business owner friends of mine and offered to do a consultation to help them identify their underperforming assets (aka hidden marketing assets) but I never really took on paid clients. I was always able to find them extra money in their businesses every time, though.

For example, if you want to offer marketing consulting to small businesses, say, like a tanning salon, you can nearly always zero in on their main underperforming asset: the telephone. Chances are when a potential tanning client calls the salon and asks the tanning salons hours of operation, the clerk will simply tell them the hours of operation and then terminate the call. Instead, the front desk clerk should have a small script to use with callers that incentives them to come in for a free tan (then convert them to paying customers after their first session is over) and also collects their contact information (to follow up in the event they don't come in). If you merely tell someone your hours of operation and then hang up, you are LOSING warms leads. You would be amazed at the number of businesses that let callers (warm leads) slip through their fingers without trying to book them to come in, incentivizing them, or collecting their contact information. So, the telephone is nearly always an 'underperforming asset' that your clients can use to convert callers into customers. But, few do it. Such a shame.

Anyway, the main lesson I learned from my talks with business owners about improving their marketing is: DO NOT offer a free consultation. I think that immediately devalues what you have to offer and you end up wasting your time talking to tire-kickers / freebie-seekers. Also, I followed up with all of the people I offered suggestions to (for free) and literally ZERO of them actually implemented the changes I suggested. Why? Because I offered them free advice/guidance. People don't take anything serious if its 'free'.

If I were going to chase after consulting gigs I most definitely would follow in TC morgans footsteps and offer a fee-based consultation with a money back guarantee. Its a great idea.
 

Simon Angel

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This strategy is similar to Michael Senoffs hidden marketing assets (HMA) course -- he teaches you the marketing skills to go out and become a consultant. If any of you want to follow in TC morgans footsteps, check it out. Its $300-$400 and is well worth it (in my opinion, anyway).

I bought it to get better at marketing for my own businesses (at the time) and not for the consultant part of it. I did reach out to some small business owner friends of mine and offered to do a consultation to help them identify their underperforming assets (aka hidden marketing assets) but I never really took on paid clients. I was always able to find them extra money in their businesses every time, though.

For example, if you want to offer marketing consulting to small businesses, say, like a tanning salon, you can nearly always zero in on their main underperforming asset: the telephone. Chances are when a potential tanning client calls the salon and asks the tanning salons hours of operation, the clerk will simply tell them the hours of operation and then terminate the call. Instead, the front desk clerk should have a small script to use with callers that incentives them to come in for a free tan (then convert them to paying customers after their first session is over) and also collects their contact information (to follow up in the event they don't come in). If you merely tell someone your hours of operation and then hang up, you are LOSING warms leads. You would be amazed at the number of businesses that let callers (warm leads) slip through their fingers without trying to book them to come in, incentivizing them, or collecting their contact information. So, the telephone is nearly always an 'underperforming asset' that your clients can use to convert callers into customers. But, few do it. Such a shame.

Anyway, the main lesson I learned from my talks with business owners about improving their marketing is: DO NOT offer a free consultation. I think that immediately devalues what you have to offer and you end up wasting your time talking to tire-kickers / freebie-seekers. Also, I followed up with all of the people I offered suggestions to (for free) and literally ZERO of them actually implemented the changes I suggested. Why? Because I offered them free advice/guidance. People don't take anything serious if its 'free'.

If I were going to chase after consulting gigs I most definitely would follow in TC morgans footsteps and offer a fee-based consultation with a money back guarantee. Its a great idea.

Great insight!
 
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Flint

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Nicely done man, congratulations!

In complete transparency - I'm still figuring out my offer. I meet with one client once a week for an hour and they're cool with that. Another one I spend half a day with twice a week. The hole I have in my operation is that I haven't productized my service offering yet. There's no "$5,000 gets you X."

Would love to hear your thoughts, or anyone else who is familiar with the consulting space, on that subject!

The standard approach in consulting is to let the client know your hourly rate, agree the amount of time you're going to spend on the project and when the payments should be made (e.g. per meeting, weekly, monthly etc.). You don't have to predict the result, they can control how much time you put into it etc. But... it's the typical time for money scenario. A bit of a headache long term (especially if clients don't get the results they expect).

A better deal is made when you charge:
  • proportionally to the value the client receives
  • independently of the time you put into it
A step further would be to charge not in $ but in equity or % of their sales. This is more tricky. A risk-benefit analysis dance for you and them.

You probably know all this already, but the two key questions to optimise it (independently as they require a bit different skills) are:
  • How valuable is the result in the eyes of the client?
  • How much work is it for you to deliver this result?
Mind you, the result may be something intangible, e.g. them understanding the bottlenecks. Just like in your initial consultation which they perceive as money well spent (otherwise they wouldn't hire you afterwards).

As an example, have a look at how Chris Do does it:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKXZ7t_RiOE


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivKnj9ffcmE


In terms of "productionising" your service, you can't really do much there unless you get to a reproducible process. And even then you'll likely need to tailor the execution to individual clients. So the way forward would be to either outsource your tasks and let others do the work (the reason why the Big Four hire soooo many consultants) or offer a template for a DIY solution (software tool, staff training etc.).
 

Andy Daniels

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Wow well done!

Regarding your productized consulting services inquiry, I'm sure @NMdad can offer some tips. He's my go-to guy with consulting info!

Wishing you continued success and good health!
 

USN-Ken

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A step further would be to charge not in $ but in equity or % of their sales. This is more tricky. A risk-benefit analysis dance for you and them.

Yikes.

Everyone Ive known who tried the old "Pay me a % the results that I help you get" got burned, especially the ones who tried doing it based on net (which is too easily manipulated).

Instead of presenting this concept as an either/or proposition, Id recommend a hybrid: $ against %.

Example: You pay me $X as your consultant and once you fully implement my plan/suggestion and then hit an agreed-upon earnings goal of $X (to recoup your investment), then you give me X% above that so we both win.

Just a thought.
 
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Flint

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Yikes.

Everyone Ive known who tried the old "Pay me a % the results that I help you get" got burned, especially the ones who tried doing it based on net (which is too easily manipulated).

Instead of presenting this concept as an either/or proposition, Id recommend a hybrid: $ against %.

Example: You pay me $X as your consultant and once you fully implement my plan/suggestion and then hit an agreed-upon earnings goal of $X (to recoup your investment), then you give me X% above that so we both win.

Just a thought.

Oh yes, that's what I had in mind. Don't go Full Monty with $ charges.
 

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